(Courtesy of NCYI) The National Council of Young Israel (NCYI) announced that a new board of directors has been elected to lead the organization. The 12 new board members and the six individuals who served on the previous board prior to the national board elections in April represent 15 different Young Israel branches throughout the United States.

Zev Berman of Young Israel of Jamaica Estates, New York was elected the new president of NCYI, while Rabbi David Warshaw, who previously served as president, was elected chairman of the board.

According to Berman, the new board is going to work to continue strengthening the organization and further enhance its programmatic and communal efforts on behalf of the Young Israel movement.

“For the past 113 years, the National Council of Young Israel has been one of the preeminent synagogue organizations in the United States and Israel, and we have been on the frontlines of the enduring effort to support and strengthen the state of Israel and ensuring the continued vitality of religious Zionism,” said Berman. “Our new leadership team is committed to carrying on that legacy and making certain that the National Council of Young Israel is well positioned to continue our important work on behalf of our branch synagogues and the greater Jewish community.”

Over the past several years, NCYI has expanded and strengthened its connections with Young Israel synagogues around the United States through a variety of means, including enhanced communications, innovative and engaging programs and its service as a valuable resource for synagogue rabbis, lay leaders and congregants. In addition, NCYI has revitalized its presence in Israel through the ongoing development of Young Israel in Israel. Moreover, NCYI worked to raise more than $2 million to support numerous organizations and military units in Israel since the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, which is over and above the fundraising efforts undertaken by individual Young Israel branch synagogues.

Berman, a Jamaica Estates resident and president of The Berman Consulting Group, a professional services and technology consulting firm, has an array of Jewish communal experience. In addition to pioneering a number of popular Jewish websites and assisting many regional, national and international clients in their use of all forms of technology, Berman had a tenure as technology advisor to the mayor of Jerusalem and deputy director of educational technology for the municipality of Jerusalem.

A proud alumnus of Yeshiva College, Berman is a founding member of its board of overseers and serves on the executive committee. He also serves as executive vice president of the Queens Jewish Community Council and on the board of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York.

“With the Jewish community and the state of Israel facing serious challenges, the National Council of Young Israel is going to do everything we can, in conjunction with our branch synagogues, to help our people persevere despite the adversity that we face on a global scale,” Berman said. “The Young Israel movement is here for everyone — families, youth and seniors — and we are going to maintain and expand our efforts to better all aspects of Jewish life for our branch synagogues and members.”

The new NCYI Board of Directors includes:

President: Zev Berman, YI of Jamaica Estates, New York

Chairman of the Board: Rabbi David Warshaw, YI of Oceanside, New York

1st Vice President: Stu Verstandig, YI of Kew Garden Hills, New York

2nd Vice President: Stuart Wagner, YI of Woodmere, New York

Treasurer: Louis Emmer, YI of Staten Island, New York

Finance Secretary: Rich Feldman, YI of West Hempstead, New York

Recording Secretary: Susan Mandelstam, YI of Jamaica Estates, New York

Associate Vice Presidents residing outside Greater New York:

Phil Baretz, YI of Hollywood, Florida

Ari Behar, YI Brookline, Massachusetts

David Schultz, YI of Century City/Los Angeles

Michael Szafranski, YI of Bal Harbor, Florida

Mark Trencher, YI of West Hartford, Connecticut

Associate Vice Presidents residing in Greater New York:

Mark Beinstock, YI of Jamaica Estates, New York

Mark Berlin, YI of Cedarhurst, New York

Ayelet Goldberg, YI of Holliswood, New York

Marc Goldmann, YI of New Rochelle, New York

Elisha Hus, YI of Oceanside

Adam Lazaros, YI of Teaneck